*Precious Lifetime

        Treasure your lifetime, for it's only in your lifetime that you get to forgive others, to be forgiven by God, and to chose to go to or away from God for all eternity.

*To Forgive or Not to Forgive

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus teaches us to always forgive our brothers and sisters who sin against us, unconditionally. Naturally, we also sin against our brothers and sisters and the Lord wants them to forgive us too. It comes down to that not forgiving anyone is a sin and the Lord doesn't want us to commit that sin. This is certain – we'll never have peace in our hearts and in our world if we do not forgive those who offend us or can only forgive them a limited number of times. 

God Did Create Us

        I believe that we have all lied at one time or another in our lifetime, not counting the white lies. It amazes me that most of us do tell the truth most of the time. This made me see that we definitely possess a conscience, which further made me see that God must have created us to know good and evil. There's not another way possible.

How Significant Are We?

        If we look at the stars, ponder upon the billions of galaxies out there, and look at ourselves, we begin to realize our puniness in the whole universe. Then there are times we are so overcome by things that happen to us or are going on in the world that we feel there is not a thing we can do about it. Let's change our perceptions. The Lord God who created this vast universe had already come into the world and died for our sins in order to save us for all eternity! And he can and will now help us overcome whatever overwhelms us in the world! Now that we see we are indeed most significant to God, we must never consider ourselves insignificant again.   

**God to Be #1*

        God to be #1 in our life means that he is to be #1 in every category of our life. Simply, he must be the one we desire the must. If you still long for something more than God, he is not first in your life yet.  

***Most Loving Father

        Today we heard from Luke 15 the parable of the lost son read at Mass. This to me is the most beautiful and moving parable of Jesus. To know how much God the Father loves us, read this parable. The father in the parable expresses his true feeling when he says to the older son, who has always served him faithfully but is now angry that his lost brother is being treated better than he ever has been, "My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." We were all dead and lost once, and may still be. My joy is that we have such a loving and forgiving Father that we can come to life and be home anytime we wish to return to him – he is always there waiting for us. 

Migrating Toward God?

        The battle with the self goes on. We have the two extremes: Holding tightly onto ourselves at one end and abandoning ourselves totally to God at the other. Each one of us knows where he is at. We falsely think that we are secure and free when we hold onto ourselves, taking up our defense position, but we can never be our own savior! The truth is that the more we abandon ourselves to God, the more we become secure and free in God. So, start migrating toward him.

*Prevalent Spirit of the Antichrist

        Recently, one TV show host accused Christians of being delusional in thinking that God speaks to their hearts, while another TV commentator belittled church, family, the police, the military, and the national anthem. My great sorrow for them prevents me from laughing at their ignorance and self-importance. These hardened hearts exhibited their total lack of humility. 1 John 4.3: Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. Today it has spread wide over our world more than ever, bringing us ever closer to our last hour.

Extraordinary Status

        Communion experience. Christ now dwells in me. I am no longer an alien sinner, for the Lord has made me part of him. 

**Last Reminder Reinforced

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 16.19-31, Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus told to the Pharisees bolsters the reminder of my last post. Both the rich man and poor Lazarus died. Lazarus was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham, while the rich man descended to the netherworld where he remained in torment. The parable makes it clear that there is heaven and there is hell, and a great chasm exists between the two abodes preventing anyone from crossing from one side to the other. Furthermore, the parable reveals that the only way to avoid ending up in the place of torment is to believe that it exists and repent now before you die. God has been telling us this all along and we need to listen to him.

***Critically Important Reminder*

        In driving a car, the worst that could ever happen to you is a head-on collision. Therefore, avoid it at any cost. In your next life, the worst and absolutely most miserable thing that could ever happen to you is eternal separation from God the Father who has lovingly created you. Therefore, make sure that this will never happen to you at all costs by knowing that God loves you and believing in him with all your heart. This is my most loving advice to all.

God Most Delightful!

        Communion delight. I experienced God as my absolute delight, ending this month on a high note!

*First Duty to God

        Get to know him as much as possible so that we may be one with him. Then we can serve him according to his will effectively. 

**Master and Servant Are One!

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 20, Jesus said to the Twelve disciples, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." We are so blessed to have our Master serving us! The amazing God of Christ is both our Lord and our Servant – rejoice! 

*Holiness Most Attractive

        Communion experience. I am a sinner and no other sinner can possibly save me. In receiving the Lord, I have the Most Holy One entering me to save me. God loves me, but it is his holiness that draws a sinner like me to him.

**Power of Our Free Will*

        God gave us the free will to test our faith. The faithful choose wisely and gain eternal life. The faithless choose foolishly and lose life altogether.

*Soul Over Body and Mind*

        Christ came to save our souls. Therefore, do not worry about losing your body or your mind; but by all means safeguard your soul!

**Union With God, His Desire

        God is more than just being within our reach; he ardently wishes that we enter to dwell in his house! God is more than merely being accessible; he yearns to take up residence in our hearts! This makes intimate union with him possible when we yield to him. This is the endearing God of Christ!